Penybont shocked the reigning Cymru Premier champions TNS by ending their 30-match
unbeaten run in the league with a 2-1 win.
Headers from Clayton Green and Chris Venables on either side of an Adam Wilson finish
give the hosts their first-ever win against Craig Harrison’s side in 20 attempts.
It was a well-deserved victory despite a strong penalty claim for TNS and an offside goal in stoppage time. The visitors suffered their first league defeat since January 2023, and Bont’s victory is a statement that they are to be taken seriously in the title race.
Penybont were the side that came fastest out of the blocks, stopping TNS from playing out from the back and winning their duels both offensively and defensively, something that
they would continue to do for the whole half.
Penybont would cap off this early spell of dominance with a goal, coming from midfielder Green. A long ball from the halfway line from Kane Owen fell to Mael Davies who controlled the ball brilliantly with his chest and crossed it into the unmarked Green who headed low into the right-corner to send the bumper home crowd of 1,022 into raptures.
Just minutes later Keyon Reffell had a great chance to double the lead, with a low Lewis
Harling cross falling to him on the six-yard box, the forward lacked the composure needed
and the shot was snatched at and ended up over the bar.
Frustration grew for TNS who received the first yellow card of the game through Leo Smith, who stopped a Harling counterattack following a wayward TNS throw into the middle of the pitch.
Soon after, The Bont had another great chance to double the lead, with a well worked short corner leading to a looping Owen cross that fell perfectly for centre-back Borge to header in, but his effort went straight into the hand of Roberts.
Borge again was at the centre of the action minutes later when a skewed Reffell shot fell fortunately for him in the corner of the six-yard box, his header this time forced a good save low to Roberts’ left.
TNS countered from the resulting clearance and Kircough became Penybont’s first yellow card of the game after he stopped the counterattack by fouling.
The game became more open after the half-hour mark, with TNS growing into the game and creating some decent openings. They continued their positive spell with a nice passage of play that led to Jordan Williams being played in, but his shot went straight down the middle of the goal and was saved easily.
Adam Wilson found himself free in the box after an accidental knock-through by Ludvigsen following a long ball and he made no mistake, slotting the ball coolly into the left-corner of the goal using his left foot.
TNS continued to try to keep possession after the break, with Penybont still managing to interrupt this on many occasions. The first real moment of the second half came around the hour mark where there was a strong claim for a penalty for TNS when Danny Redmond beat Billy Borge to a ball in the box and was caught, but referee Tom Owen waved the claims away.
Harling and Reffell both got yellow cards for the home side in quick succession after stopping counterattacks. Craig Harrison made another change in an attempt to break down Penybont, this time changing from four at the back to three with Blaine Hudson coming on for Rory Holden with a quarter of an hour to go.
In the 85th minute experienced substitute Chris Venables outmuscled his defender and headed powerfully over Roberts in the TNS goal following some clever work on the right- wing and a perfect cross from Nathan Wood.
The move was also started by Venables who helped to win the throw that the move came from. In the first minute of stoppage time TNS put the ball into the net, as Adam Wilson volleyed home to silence the home fans.
This silence turned to jubilation as the linesman lifted his flag for offside. Penybont then defended for their lives for the rest of the match and secured their first ever win against the side from
Oswestry.
Penybont:
Pryzbek (GK), Davies, Ludvigsen, Borge, Owen (C) (Ware 79’) , Harling, Kircough, Green,
Wood, Reffell (Venables 79’) , Crole (Pritchard 90’)
Goals: Green 12’ Venables 85’
Yellow Cards: Kircough 27’ Harling 69’ Reffell 72’
TNS:
Roberts (GK), Daniels, Bodenham, Davies, Redmond (Bradley 90’) , D Williams, Holden
(Hudson 75’), Smith, Cieslewicz (Clark 59’) , Wilson, J Williams (Oteh 90’)
Goal: Wilson 43’
Yellow Card: Smith 22’
(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell/FAW)
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